Heated hair curler for even curling of hair

ABSTRACT

A device for curling hair comprised of an elongated cylindrical body member with heat-resistant handles on both ends and a housing unit located between the two ends. The cylindrical body is constructed of a conductive material. The cylindrical body further has on its surface a means for evenly spacing the hair to be heated, and is preferably comprised of a raised spiral groove made of a non-conductive medium. In a preferred embodiment, the device is operated with at least one hand on either of the heat-resistant handles and by the act of winding the hair around the cylindrical body. The device is heated using electrical power, which in the present embodiment is supplied by an electrical cord but may also be supplied by alternate power sources. The device facilitates even curling of the hair across the head, thereby reducing the time and energy involved in using a traditional hair curler.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the area of hair styling and morespecifically to a new heated hair curler allowing for even curling ofportions of hair using a novel spacing mechanism as well as astationary, non-roller action that together allow for symmetricalcurling of hair over the entire head.

2. Description of Related Art

Numerous heated hair curling mechanisms exist which serve to allow theuser to change the shape and appearance of hair. More specifically,these existing mechanisms employ the fundamental principle of attachinghair to a heating unit and subsequently using a rolling motion to wrapthe hair around the heating unit in order to achieve a curled appearancein the hair. Many of these devices employ a clamping device to keep thehair in place while it is rolled, heated and shaped into a helical curl.

Some models utilize a single handle to facilitate rolling of the hairaround a heated end at the opposite end. Many such devices use apressure lever mechanism to secure hair against the heating unit,thereby limiting the size of the available heated portion Certain modelsemploy a spiral or bristle functionality in order to further shape orconcurrently comb the hair. These models require the user to focus onone side of the head at a time, which takes a significant amount of timeand often results in asymmetrical curls.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,949 to Julemont discloses a heating hair curler witha fixed and mobile spiral profile used together to heat a lock of hairon at least two sides at the same time. This system does not address theneed of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a moredesirable and uniform appearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,215 to Cafaro discloses a heated hair curling brushwith a lighting means enclosed in the barrel and a means for forcing hotair through the device in order to brush and blow hair simultaneously.This system does not address the need of a user to curl hairsymmetrically across the head for a more desirable and uniformappearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,562 to Takimae discloses an electric curling ironwith a clamping mechanism designed to press hair to be curled againstthe electrically heated rod. This system does not address the need of auser to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a more desirable anduniform appearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,092 to Manabe et al. discloses an electricallyheated hair curling iron with a rechargeable storage battery for heatinghair without the need for a corded power supply. This system does notaddress the need of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the headfor a more desirable and uniform appearance.

U.S. application Ser. No. 10/821,109 to Cafaro et al. discloses varioushair styling devices with ion generators. This system does not addressthe need of a user to curl hair symmetrically across the head for a moredesirable and uniform appearance.

U.S. application Ser. No. 10/155,051 to Huntley discloses a spiralcurling iron with an elongated heating element containing a helicalgroove and clamp that together place spiral curls into hair. This systemdoes not address the need of a user to curl hair symmetrically acrossthe head for a more desirable and uniform appearance.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to improve upon existing heated hair curlingirons by providing a means whereby hair may be curled evenly on allsides of the head without using a rolling motion. Moreover, the presentinvention improves upon the prior art by allowing for more hair to beheated with a single motion, thereby minimizing time and electricity.The absence of a traditional elongated handle mechanism on the deviceprovides additional heated surface area and serves to increase theamount of hair that may be curled at one time. The spacing mechanism ofthe device further serves to heat sections of hair more thoroughly, asit ensures that small, even sections or hair contact the heatedcylindrical body.

The present invention discloses a heated hair curler comprising acylindrical body with two heat-resistant handles at opposite ends of thecylindrical body, a non-conductive means for spacing the hair positionedon the surface of the cylindrical body, characterized by the fact thatthe cylindrical body is heated by means of an electrical heating unit.The electrical heating unit provides energy in the form of heat to thecylindrical body but not to the handles or the spacing means containedon the cylindrical body. The heating unit is activated by a controlpanel located on the heated hair curler, which further comprises atemperature control mechanism. The device is operated by taking sectionsof hair from either side of the head and wrapping the hair around thesections of the cylindrical body created by the non-conductive spacer,thereby forming curled sections of hair on both sides of the head. Thisparticular functionality improves upon the prior art by reducing thetime and electrical energy required to heat sections of hair over a moreextensive area and in an even, symmetrical manner.

One particular feature of the invention illustrates that the heatedcylindrical body is capped on both ends by a small heat-resistanthandle, thereby allowing the user to grip the device at either endwithout fear of causing injury, namely a burn injury to the skin. Theplacement of the non-conductive handles further allows the user toengage in either-handed wrapping of the sections of hair around theheated cylindrical body, thereby exerting more control and precisionwith regard to the curling of hair.

One additional feature of the invention illustrates that thenon-conductive raised spiral groove placed around the entirety of theheated cylindrical body ensure that proper spacing of the hair occurs,thereby minimizing over- or under-heating of any one section of hair.The non-conductive raised spiral groove spacers further ensure that evenheating of hair is achieved.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the uniqueplacement of the two heat-resistant handles at either end of thecylindrical body maximizes the length of the conductive surface, therebyallowing hair from various parts of the head to be heatedsimultaneously. In turn, this allows for symmetrical curling of hairaround the head, alleviating a need in the art for a hair curler thatcan satisfactorily heat hair evenly across the head.

Finally, also according to the preferred embodiment of the invention,the unique placement of the two heat-resistant handles at either end ofthe cylindrical body maximizes the length of the conductive surface thatmay be used to heat sections of hair. This feature improves upon priorart by allowing faster and more efficient curling of the hair on theentire head, thereby resulting in savings of time and money to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the heated curler for even curling ofhair in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the heat-resistant control unitplaced midway between the end handles in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the on/off switch and correspondingLED indicator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the temperature control dial inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the fully assembled heat-resistantcontrol unit placed midway between the end handles in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the electrical cord connected to apower supply such as a standard 125V AC power socket in accordance withan illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the conductive barrel comprising thecylindrical body of the instant device in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the helically-shaped non-conductivemeans for spacing hair in accordance with an illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the fully assembled cylindrical bodycomposed of a helically-shaped non-conductive means for spacing hairplaced around the conductive barrel in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein disclosedand described, it should be understood that various modifications can bemade without departing from the scope of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heated hair curler for even curling of hairaccording to the present invention comprises a barrel-shaped heatingunit of essentially cylindrical shape 1 with two heat-resistant handleson either end 3. The heat-resistant handles 3 are attached to thecylindrical body by means of attachment commonly known to one of skillin the art and may be comprised of any non-conductive material.

The cylindrical heating unit 1 further comprises a non-conductive meansfor spacing hair 2 along the length of the cylindrical heating unit 1.In a preferred embodiment, the non-conductive means for spacing hair 2is a raised spiral attached to the cylindrical heating unit 1, where thespaces created by the spiral may be of any desired measurement.

FIG. 7 shows the cylindrical heating unit 1 in the preferred embodiment,and it further illustrates that the cylindrical heating unit 1 possessesa smooth surface that does not cause hair to be caught upon it. FIG. 8shows a stand-alone view of the non-conductive means for spacing hair 2in the raised spiral formation of the preferred embodiment, wherein thespacing between the spiral grooves may be of any measurement necessaryto achieved the desired hair curling effect. FIG. 9 shows thecylindrical heating unit 1 with the non-conductive means for spacinghair 2 positioned around the diameter of the barrel, wherein the spiralgrooves of the preferred embodiment are evenly spaced along the lengthof the cylindrical heating unit 1 but may alternatively be spaced in anymanner desirable to the user.

The cylindrical heating unit 1 is further comprised of an electricalheating unit 4, which in the preferred embodiment is located midwaybetween the two heat-resistant handles 3, but alternatively may belocated at any point along the cylindrical heating unit 1. Theelectrical heating unit 4 is attached to the cylindrical heating unit 1by means known to one of skill in the art, and in a preferred embodimentis attached so as to permit placement of hair around the cylindricalheating unit 1 during the act of using the invention. The electricalheating unit 4 provides electrical power to the conductive cylindricalheating unit 1, thereby causing the latter to become heated. As shown inFIG. 1, the electrical heating unit 4 fits around the cylindricalheating unit 1 and should be comprised of a non-conductive materialsuitable for housing the electrical control mechanism. As shown in FIG.2, the electrical heating unit 4 is preferably a smooth, rounded housingthat fits around the diameter of the cylindrical heating unit 1;alternately, the electrical heating unit 4 may be comprised of anysuitable material and in any shape which allows connection to thecylindrical heating unit 1 without the entry of heat therein.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the degree to which the cylindrical heatingunit 1 is warmed is controlled by the temperature control mechanism 6contained within—and visible on the surface of—the electrical heatingunit 4. The temperature control mechanism 6 may be in the form of amanual dial, a digital entry device, or any other means for selecting adesired heating temperature. The precise temperatures to which thedevice may be heated are those temperatures known to one of ordinaryskill in the art to be effective at quickly heating hair without causingdamage or burn. As shown in FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment comprises amanual temperature control mechanism 6 in the form of a dial, but mayalternatively comprise any type of control mechanism.

The electrical heating unit 4 is further comprised of a power controlswitch 7, which serves to allow or disallow electrical current to beapplied to the cylindrical heating unit 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the powercontrol switch 7 may be a manual sliding switch that oscillates between“on” and “off” positions; alternately, the power control switch 7 may bea binary push button or any other kind of control system. In conjunctionwith the power control switch 7, the invention comprises a powerindicator 9 that serves to indicate whether power is being supplied tothe invention at any given point in time. In the preferred embodiment,the power indicator 9 comprises a light-emitting diode (“LED”)semiconductor light source, but may alternately comprise any type ofindicator. The fully-assembled electrical heating unit 4 of thepreferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 5.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the electrical heating unit 4 may beattached to a power supply by means of an electrical supply cord 5, withattachment occurring at any point on the electrical heating unit 4. Inthe preferred embodiment, the electrical heating unit 4 is connected tothe electrical supply cord 5 by means of a flexible joint 8 thatpreserves the integrity of the connection while the device is in use. Asshown in FIG. 6, the preferred embodiment comprises an electrical supplycord 5 of variable length that may be connected to a standard 125 V ACpower supply. Alternately, the invention may be powered by battery orany other form of electrical input.

1. A hair curler comprising: a cylindrical barrel; a handle extendingfrom each end of said cylindrical barrel, wherein said handle isresistant to heat; a heater within said cylindrical barrel adapted toprovide heat to said cylindrical barrel; a spacing mechanism positionedon the surface of said cylindrical barrel; a control unit located alongthe length of said cylindrical barrel.
 2. A hair curler according toclaim 1, wherein said cylindrical barrel is comprised of a conductivematerial.
 3. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said spacingmechanism is resistant to heat.
 4. A hair curler according to claim 1,wherein said control unit directs said heater within said cylindricalbarrel.
 5. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said spacingmechanism is in the shape of a spiral that is raised above the surfaceof said cylindrical barrel.
 6. A hair curler according to claim 1,wherein said spacing mechanism may be adjusted to control the width ofthe spaces created by said spacing mechanism.
 7. A hair curler accordingto claim 1, wherein said control unit is located midway between each ofsaid heat-resistant end handles.
 8. A hair curler according to claim 1,further comprising a first manually operated power control for providingpower to said hair curler to cause said cylindrical barrel to heat.
 9. Ahair curler according to claim 8, wherein said power is supplied by astandard 125-Volt AC electrical outlet.
 10. A hair curler according toclaim 8, further comprising an electrical cord attached to said controlunit for the purpose of supplying said power.
 11. A hair curleraccording to claim 8, further comprising a second manually operatedpower control for adjusting the intensity and degree of heat provided tosaid cylindrical barrel.
 12. A hair curler according to claim 1, whereina user manually applies one or more strand of hair to said cylindricalbarrel.
 13. A hair curler according to claim 12, wherein a usermaintains one hand on either of said heat-resistant handles.